Fantastic Four #237
Published and © by Marvel, December 1981
Title: “The Eyes Have It!”
Synopsis: A disoriented alien falls in with some small-time thieves – and finds herself battling half of the Fantastic Four.
Writer: John Byrne
Artist: Byrne
Review: After delivering a classic anniversary issue in Fantastic Four #236 (see review), John Byrne pulls back into another simple, done-in-one tale. This issue isn’t bad, but a nagging sense of “get on with it already” is setting in; a title like FF needs an occasional dose of heroic epic. There’s also a little awkwardness to the writing, with Byrne noticeably writing to new readers (e.g., of course the Invisible Girl hasn’t forgotten Alicia is blind!) But there are some excellent character moments and the story of Spinnerette is fine fun. And, of course, Byrne’s art remains exceptional.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: “How can anything so boring be so wonderful?” – Comics Coast to Coast #1, 1982
Cool factor: Spinnerette is a fun new add to the FF mythos, even if little has been done with the character in the years since.
Notable: First appearance of Spinnerette.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 20p British variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “The rush, my darling, is to hopefully prevent a disaster of truly planetary proportions.” – Mr. Fantastic, romantic master of the overstatement
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Aug. 24, 2009.
